"We have a lot of work to do first," added van Amersfoort. "We sincerely hope to get him one or two days before the first official test."

Van Amersfoort added that the team's history with the Verstappen family helped in the deal being completed.

Verstappen Sr dominated the 1992 Dutch Formula Opel Lotus series with VAR, scoring eight wins in nine races, and also trounced the Euroseries regulars in two of the seven races he contested as a 'guest' driver.

"That's one of reasons why we came to this deal," said van Amersfoort.

"It's good for a kid to act in his first season of car racing in a team that speaks his own language.

"He will make some mistakes but that's what he can learn from, and it will help if he can talk them through in Dutch."